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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Mar. 3, 1868.

AA.DUVALL. EXGAVATING UNDER WATER.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. DUVALL. :5XGMLATINGb UNDER WATER.

Na 75.003. Patented Mar. 3, 1868.

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d@ *MQ JJM? x @fuites gisten lstcnt @ffice Letters PatentNo. 75,003. dated Mrah 3, 1868; antedaed February 28, 1868.

IMPROYED METHOD OP EXCAVATING UNDER WATER.

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'ro ALL wnou Ir MAY coNoERN;

Be it known .that I, ALFRED DUYALL, of' Baltimore, in the connty of Baltimore, and Stute of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Combination of Mechanical Arrangements, adapted to theuse of known' 'principles, for the Purpose of Excavating and Collecting Metallic or other Substances Submerged in Water and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot' the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawingsmaking a part of this specification, in which*- Figure 1 is a. longitudinal section.

Figure 2, a. plan.

Figure 8, a cross-section.

Fig'ure4, a. plan of inlet with excavator.

Toenuble others skilled in mechanics to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the con.. struction and operation of the same. I

I use a. boat, carrying a steam-engine or other motor, with the other appliances i`or the purpose intended. A. is-s' centrifugal pump. B :ls-a short supply-pipe tofthe pump A, through which the Water and diner particles of excavatedfnattcr are raised from the recess in thc box IC. C is an air-tight receiving-box, with folding lids, forming a part of the supply-pipe of the pump A. D is an outer box or water-chamber, surrounding and rising above the receiving-box C, intended to be lled with water to a line above the lids of the box C, bywhich the same is made air-tight. E is a screen, by means of which any particles raised that are too large tohpass through the discharge of the pump A arc retained inthe box C. F is a metallic elbow, connecting lthe box C with the pipe G. H is a self-aeting-va-lve. I is the inlet to thc supply-pipe G.` J is a coupledlshaft, carrying an auger or excavator, K, working within, below, and outside of .the inlet I, the lip of the excavator being inclincd,'by

.which the excavated matter israised above the lower line of the inlet I. L is a stationary cylinder, through which the shaft J revolves, and fastened on which is a revolving piston, working within the cylinder on oil or other matter, which the wcightof the shaft J is supported. M, bevel-gear,.communicating motion to the shaftd. ciN, a pulley on a horizontal shaft, communicating motion to the bevel-gear M. '0 O are anchors and ropes, by which the boat is held in position, er moved when excavating. P P P are troughs, into which the pump A discharges, with gates et Q, by which the discharge may be alternated. .R R R are reverse troughs, with a movable division at S'. ".l is a valve, by which water is let into the boat for the purpose of settling it when excavating perpendicular-ly. 1'Il is auxiliary centrifugal pump, for the purpose ot' charging the puuip A, filling the water-box D, pumping clear water into the discharge-troughs'-R, and for pumping out the boat when required. 311V is a division in the boat, (with a gate,) which forms two water-compartments, the object of which is to settle the stern of the boat, so as to elevate thejoint of the lowersupplypipe above the water-line,

lor the purpose ofmaking convenient connections.

Operation. The boat carrying the appliances for the purpose intended, being moved to the place ot use, andsecured in position, the folding lids of the receivingbox C are closed and fastenedfwhen, by means ofthe auxiliary pump U,"t'he pump is charged, as also the water-chamber D, to a line above the folding lids of the receiving-box C. AThe pump A is then set in motion, as also the excavator K. When the atmospheric pressure becomes removed `(by -tho motion of thepump A) from the supply-inlet I, then the atmospheric prcssure'on the water on the cutf'. side of the supply-inlet, forces asnpply of water and other matter into the supply-pipe of the pump A, in proportion to its discharge, and by the assistance of the rotatingcxcavator K, earthy and othermatteris loosened beloiw Yund around-the inlet, and, by means of the inclined lip on the excavator K, raised above the-.bottom line of the inlet, when, by the pressure cfa-the atmosphere, the earthy and other matter is forced into the receivinghoux C. Thc'coarser particles of the matter thus raised are retained in .the receiving-'box C, by the interposition of the screen E, and all the finer particles, with the water, are discharged into the troughs P PI? and R `B. R alternately, as desired, and to other additional series of troughs, for the proper separation of the matter ,being collected. For thepurpose of more eliectually separating the matter being collected, clearwater is pumped into the series of troughs alternately, by the auxiliary pump U. When the receiving-box C becomes filled vanos 2 by the coarser particles retained in it by the interpositien of the screen E, the pump A and excavator K are stopped, and the box discharged f its contents; and prepared for further operation as described. When excavating perpendicularly, u'atervis let into the boat through the valve T, by which it is settled proportionately, to the excavation' beingmadc, and to the depth desired, as far as the settling of the boat wiil ndnlit at one operation.

For making the connections of the supply-ppe, 85e., for excaratinfor in 'deep water:` rflic boat being:r pumped out, or free from water, the gate in tliedivision V being closed, water is let into the stern compartment through the valve T, by which means the stern is settled and the bows elevated, so -tliat the joint of tho supply-pipe, bclo'v and connecting?,r with the valve H, is raised above the water-line, when the `joint is disconnected, and also the couplin` of the shaft J, andan additional length of pipe is added, as desired, and aucorresponding length of shaft. rlhe connections are then secured, and the boat brought into a horizontal position, when it is ready for deeper excavations, as desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The receiving-box C, forming a horizontal portion of the pipe leading from the excavator to the-pump, constructed with doors to give access to .its interior, and submerged in Water, or otherwise made air-tight, sub-v stantially as set forth. I A

2.?The combination of the pump A, receiving-box C, and screen E, pipe F Gr, and vertically working excavator K, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the receiving-inlet I' and excavator K, respectively constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth. v

4. The combination of the excavator K, vertical shaft J, and stationary cylinder L, with revolving piston for' supporting the shaft, substantially as s'ct forth.

5. The arrangement of the hull of the'boat with a partition, V,`valve T, and pump M, for regulating the depth of the excavator, either when at work or for the purpose of adjusting the shaft, substantially as set forth.

' ALFRED DUVALL.

Witnesses:

A. LESLIE DUVALL, E. D. SwnENY. 

